Local roller derby team looks to bring popularity to Cheboygan

But while Higgins certainly enjoys imposing her physicality against her opponents on a rink, her real goal isn't to just win bouts (games) with her teammates. It's to win over a community and promote her sport each and every day. So how one convince another to join roller derby, you might ask?

Especially in the sport of roller derby, where the Cheboygan native found her true passion.

Quite frankly, anything less than intense might be considered unusual in such a grueling competition.

"It's just one of those things I'm passionate about," said Higgins, 34, "and when I get out there, I give it everything I have, 150 percent. I'll take a hit just like the rest of them, and keep skating and hit right back."

But while Higgins certainly enjoys imposing her physicality against her opponents on a rink, her real goal isn't to just win bouts (games) with her teammates.

It's to win over a community and promote her sport each and every day.

So how one convince another to join roller derby, you might ask?

"Roller derby is a love affair. Once you do it, you will love it forever," said Higgins. "The physical part of it, the closeness of your teammates, it's like a sisterhood, and you truly have to be a team to win when you play roller derby."

Higgins grew fond of the sport of roller derby, competing with friends when she lived in Florida about a year ago.

Upon returning to Cheboygan, she had some quick aspirations in mind.

"It came about that I really wanted to skate, and I thought the community of Cheboygan could really use something like this," she said. "It's different, it's fun, it's something for all ages, not just young women. Women of any age can do roller derby."

It didn't take long for Higgins to get the ball rolling.

About a month ago, Higgins, along with several of her derby friends, formed the Rivertown Rolling Rebels of Cheboygan, a women's roller derby squad. The Rolling Rebels are the newest of roller derby teams in Michigan, which include the Traverse City Toxic Cherries, Traverse City Cherry Bombs, Kalkaska Small Town Outlaws, Escanaba Roller Hellcats, Dead River Derby of Marquette, Kingsford Crush and Lansing Mitten Mavens.

During the past month, the Rolling Rebels have been practicing for about two hours a week in the activity room at the Gaylord Ostego Sportsplex.

Though practicing in Gaylord is reasonable, Higgins said adding practice time and finding an area in Cheboygan to practice are reachable goals.

"In the spring, we're hoping to use the ice rink, but in the winter we're going to have the same issues," she said. "So if anybody has the space, we're willing to rent. We carry our own liability and insurance, everything's covered, we can go over that with anybody. We're willing to rent a building for a fair price. We would also like to add four, six or maybe even eight hours of practice per week, too."

Page 2 of 2 - "We are Cheboygan's roller derby team and we would really like somewhere to skate. We're a brand new team and we're probably about a month into it, so the more practice time we get, the sooner we can bout."

As a non-profit organization, giving back to the community is vital for Higgins and her team. Among the main charities being considered by the squad include the Cheboygan County Humane Society, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Cheboygan and the Vital Care Hospice House of Cheboygan.

"What's going to happen is any proceeds we make from our fundraisers are going to go to these charities, which is essentially what we want to happen," Higgins said. "We like to keep it local. The Hospice House was a huge one, especially when my dad was sick, the Humane Society, we are really big on that one. All are very important to us."

Higgins reiterated there's plenty of perks of competing in roller derby in Cheboygan.

"You make great friends, great camaraderie, and it's just a great community," she said. "You can live here in Cheboygan and say you have family in Washington. Your derby sisters are there when you need them. When you're having a bad day, they're there for you. It's fun and it's great exercise, it's community, it's friendship, it's family, and it's just derby is life."

To find out more information on the team, you can check out the "Rivertown Rolling Rebels" fan page on Facebook.The squad is also working on launching their own website in the near future.

The Rolling Rebels will continue to practice at the Ostego County Sportplex on Sundays from 10 a.m.-noon, with anyone welcome to attend.